dégringolade

[ dey-gran-gaw-lad; English dey-grang-guh-lahd ]

noun

, plural dé·grin·go·lades [dey-g, r, a, n, -gaw-, lad, dey-grang-g, uh, -, lahdz].

1. French. a quick deterioration or breakdown, as of a situation or circumstance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dégringolade¹

First recorded in 1880–85; literally “a quick deterioration,” from dégringoler “to tumble down” + -ade ¹

Example Sentences

Together they team up to prevent the evil Leopold Kamptulicon carrying out his devious plan to set free the lurids living in the tar pit outside the city of Degringolade.

From The Guardian

Months later came the dégringolade, when sterling was driven out of the European exchange rate mechanism.

From The Guardian

How perfectly true to life, subsequently, is the rapid dégringolade of this passion under the gnawing curse of the homeless, workless, purposeless existence which little by little disunites the lovers!

From Project Gutenberg

But the phlegmatic Englishman won't lead in that dégringolade.'

From Project Gutenberg

The news from Europe is to my ignorant ideas désolant, a dégringolade back into military despotism, which would have excited indignation with us in our fathers’ days, I think. 

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decline
• degradation
• depreciation
• devaluation
• disintegration
• dislocation
• downturn
• slump
• worsening